Frank Giufre, former Syracuse University offensive lineman, became a quality control coach for the Indianapolis Colts in February. He spent the last five seasons as the run game coordinator, offensive line coach and tight ends coach for the University of Maine.

Years at SU: 1995 to 1999Position played: Offensive linemanHometown: CanastotaNow lives in: Indianapolis. "I just got here three weeks ago. It's been crazy these past three weeks. Oh my God, I'm so excited. The family is ecstatic. Maine was nice but to be able to get my foot in the door and work for the NFL is amazing."

How would you say Syracuse fans remember you?
I would say my biggest thing was being the local kid. Out of high school (Christian Brothers Academy), I chose to stay home and play at Syracuse. I decided to do that mainly to stay close to family. I wanted more than anything for my grandparents to see me play college football. My family didn't miss one game. I wish I would've played more but you live and learn. If it weren't for my experience at Syracuse, I couldn't do what I do now. I was accepted at University of Wisconsin, North Carolina State, and Arizona but it wasn't even close.

Best moment as an Orange football player?
When we beat Miami my junior year because we had never beat them before. It was like, "Wow this is pretty incredible." Who would guess three years later I would coach at University of Miami?

What was it like moving to Miami to be the graduate assistant coach?
My time at Miami was priceless. First and foremost, I ended up meeting my wife at U Miami. We played in two national championship games -- won one and got robbed in another.

What made you leave?
You had to take courses and keep a 3.0 as a graduate assistant coach. There were a bunch of little things we had to do and I just wanted to coach.

Were you always a Colts fan?
No. I grew up a big Oakland Raiders fan. In school, I became a Browns fan because Chuck Pagano joined as their secondary coach. When he was with the Ravens, I rooted for the Ravens. I'm working for him right now with the Colts. He's somebody I've always looked up to and tried to emulate when times were tough.

How did you meet Chuck Pagano?
I met him when I was 10 years old in Boise, Idaho, with my mother and father. We found out my father's college roommates knew a coach at Boise State. That guy was Chuck Pagano. My dad and Chuck have been very close. They talk every week. I've always followed his career. He got me the graduate assistant job at University of Miami. He was always a guy i knew I could pick up the phone and talk to no matter what. When he got in the NFL, that's when I really started following him. Being from New York, you almost have to root for the Giants, the Buffalo Bills or the Jets, but I just rooted for his teams.

Jim CommentucciOn Jan. 28, 1995, Frank Giufre signs his letter of intent to attend Syracuse University as his father looks on at Christian Brothers Academy.

What made you want to pursue coaching as a career?
To be honest with you, I missed not having football in my life. I worked as a strength and conditioning coach but it always felt like there was a little something missing. It's like "The Godfather," when Michael Corleone tells you this is the business he's in. This is what I do. If I didn't enjoy getting up every morning to do it, I wouldn't. There's a honeymoon period for every job but it's been that way for as long as I can remember and I'm lucky.

Will you want your own son to pursue football?
I'm not going to push [James]. If he doesn't want to play sports, that's fine too. But he does sit and watch the football games. He's only two months old.

Do you still follow the Syracuse football team?
I do. It's on my RSS feed. I get everything from Syracuse.com. Even though we played against Syracuse for three years at Miami and then at Maine, I'd root for them.

What's it like when the team you coach plays against your college team?
You really only have to hate them for the couple hours during the game. Other than that, it's OK. It comes at you a little bit especially coming out of the Carrier Dome, because you know some of the guys at the other side. It is what it is.

Thoughts on Coach Marrone?
I really think Coach Marrone turned the program around. The coach is a former offensive lineman. You can't ask for a better coach.

Do you have other hobbies outside of football?
I'm a big mixed martial arts fan. Greg Tearney and his wife Judy are two phenomenal people in Syracuse where I used to take lessons. We used to train the SU football players in MMA at Manley Field House. Other than that, I just love being with my family.

What are you favorite places in Syracuse?
Lombardi's Italian import store. To this day I still get their food. We actually had some cold cuts sent up from Lombardi's to the Colts the other day. We had fresh prosciutto. We had so much stuff, it was crazy. We still have a six-pound oak cheese left. If you hit somebody with this, you'd knock them out.

Do you still keep in touch with your friends on the team?
Yes, Facebook helped that out. I'm actually coaching with [SU alum] David Walker, who was the running backs coach when I played. I still can't call him David, I'm like, "Oh, no, no, that's Coach Walker."